The no-love-lost relationship between Stephen Keshi and Stoke City wonder-boy Osaze Odemwingie that saw him nearly miss the World Cup is still very much in the team.
Osaze had apologized to Keshi before he was recalled to the national team and to the World Cup but Keshi sacrificed Ike Uche, another red-hot Nigerian attacker who scores goals with eyes closed on charges of being ‘technically indisciplined”.
And on a night that Keshi’s team were rudderless except for Osaze who brought vim and vitality to the attack, Keshi still threw potshots at Osaze for not playing to instructions.
A journalist had complained about the blunt attack of the Eagles but singled out Osaze for bringing fire to the attack when Keshi bared his fangs on the Stoke City player.
”No. No, No. Osaze didn’t play well. What he played was not the role I asked him to play”, he said leaving many journalists bewildered.
On a night that Emmanuel Emenike was a shadow of himself and instead of being the point man, decided to be playing wide from the wings coupled with wrong passes from Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, the introduction of Osaze at least brought a sparkling ray of hope. At one instance, he fired a ferocious shot that got everybody standing on their feet as the ball narrowly missed target. He passed balls accurately but Keshi would not have that credit go him.
”I don’t know what he played. What he played was not what I asked him to play”, he insisted.